When Insects Meet Industry: Stories from the Frontlines of Commercial Entomology

Most people imagine insects in gardens, forests, or farms—but rarely in shipping containers or steel plants. Yet, in today’s interconnected world, insects turn up in the most unexpected industrial settings, creating disruptions that can cost businesses millions.

As an entomologist, I’ve often found myself in roles that feel less like academic research and more like investigative problem-solving—unraveling insect mysteries that lie at the intersection of ecology, trade, and industry. Let me take you inside three such stories where commercial entomology made the difference between crisis and resolution.

Story One: The Mystery of the Container Stowaways

(Cargo shipment at JNPT Port – March 2021)

Insects are one of the major concerns for ships. They can cause significant damage to cargo, invite severe penalties from authorities for breaches of biosecurity, and even delay shipments for weeks. Beyond trade, the risks run deeper: introducing non-native pests into new environments can trigger ecological imbalance and economic loss. This is why strict biosecurity protocols are critical for global shipping.

In March 2021, a client reached out in panic: “Insects have been found inside a shipment from New Jersey that just arrived at JNPT. Could this trigger a quarantine problem?”

For businesses, such discoveries can mean costly delays, rejected cargo, or insurance disputes. A consignment stuck at port is more than an inconvenience—it can derail supply chains.

The Investigation

I received four samples, holding 13 insect specimens. The insects were not preserved carefully—some wings and antennae were broken—but even damaged, they told a story.

Under the microscope, I began piecing the evidence together:

• A striking Multicolored Asian Ladybird Beetle (Harmonia axyridis), a beneficial predator used in biological control.

• Several Foreign Grain Beetles (Hasverus advena), fungus feeders notorious for turning up in damp conditions.

• A carpenter ant, plus fragments of a mosquito and a thrip.

The Turning Point

The dominant insect, the Foreign Grain Beetle, gave away the real clue—it thrives in dampness, not in dry cargo goods. The others? Mostly outdoor species that must have slipped in, likely at night when the container was being handled under bright lights.

There was no infestation, no contamination of cargo. Just a handful of opportunistic stowaways.

The Resolution

The report clarified everything:

• Quarantine action was averted.

• Insurance review was resolved.

• The shipment continued its journey without financial setback.

That day, entomology didn’t just identify bugs—it kept global trade flowing.

Story Two: The Case of the Damaged Steel Sheets

Fast forward to March 2023. Another call came in, this time from Maharashtra based Steel Plant. Their complaint was unusual: “Insects are damaging our steel sheets.”

At first, it seemed improbable. How could fragile insects cause losses in a steel plant, an environment dominated by fire, machinery, and metal? But when the numbers came in—over ₹500,000 lost due to product rejection—the problem was very real.

The Site Visit

Walking into the plant at night, I immediately saw the culprit: light.

Insects, especially moths, dragonflies, and termites, navigate by natural light sources like the moon. Artificial floodlights confuse them, pulling them into spirals of disoriented flight. At the plant powerful LEDs, floodlights, and translucent sheeting created a beacon visible for miles.

The insects, lured in, landed on the freshly rolled steel sheets, leaving tiny but damaging imprints that downgraded quality.

Outside, flowering gardens supported pollinators and moths, while drains carrying recycled water created breeding grounds for aquatic insects like dragonflies. The entire setup was, unknowingly, an invitation.

Crafting Solutions

Like any investigation, the clues pointed to layered causes—and required layered interventions:

• Inside the Plant:Switch to yellow LED lamps, less visible to insects.Replace old zappers with DIY bucket light traps, simple yet effective.Shield lights, reduce wattage, and even place bowls of water near lights to draw insects away.Fogging at dusk and dawn for added control.

• Outside the Plant:Install light sheets with UV and mercury lamps at entry points to intercept insects before they entered.Replace flowering plants with ornamentals less attractive to insects.Cover drains with fine mesh to block emergence of aquatic species.

The Results

Within just two months, insect activity fell by 50%. The steel sheets were no longer marred by insect imprints, and production losses plummeted. For long-term resilience, I recommended a season-long entomological study to understand insect dynamics throughout the year.

Here, entomology acted as a bridge—between ecology and engineering, biology and industry.

Story Three: The Vanished Rain Lilies

Sometimes, the disruption is not about global trade or industrial output, but about beauty and design.

A landscape architect had spent months preparing the grounds of a new property, carefully curating a stunning display of rain lilies at the entrance. It was to be the signature feature, a soft floral carpet to greet guests on inauguration day.

But nature had other plans.

The Setback

On the eve of the grand opening, disaster struck. Overnight, the entire bed of rain lilies was devoured. What was meant to be the property’s showpiece had been reduced to stubs. The inauguration went ahead, but the impact was far from what the architect envisioned.

The Culprit

The investigation led to the Lily moth (Polytes gloriosae), whose caterpillars feed voraciously on lilies. Normally, in nature, these insects expend significant energy locating their host plants, which are scattered sparsely across landscapes. But in this case, with all the rain lilies planted together in a dense monoculture, the moths had stumbled upon a buffet.

The Lesson

By concentrating host plants in one spot, the design inadvertently optimized the moth’s egg-laying potential. Instead of searching, it could settle and multiply. Insects, after all, live by a simple rule: “Make hay while the sun shines.”

The solution? I advised the architect to switch to mixed plantation designs, breaking up host plant density and mimicking nature’s patchiness. By diversifying the planting scheme, we reduce the risk of an outbreak and make it harder for specialized insects to devastate entire displays.

Bigger Picture: Why These Stories Matter

From a port container to a steel plant to a landscaped property, these cases reveal the same truth: insects matter in industry and commerce, often in ways we don’t anticipate.

• In logistics, they can hold shipments hostage.

• In manufacturing, they can quietly erode product quality.

• In landscaping, they can undo months of design in a single night.

Across these contexts, entomology provides clarity and solutions—diagnosing the problem, tracing ecological causes, and designing interventions that respect both business goals and ecological principles.

Commercial entomology isn’t just about managing pests. It’s about building biosecurity, resilience, and sustainabilityinto the way industries and businesses operate.

🔍 At Ladybird Environmental Consulting LLP, we continue to investigate, diagnose, and solve such challenges. Each case is a reminder that the smallest creatures can cast the longest shadows—and that science can turn those shadows into solutions.

👉 Over to you: Have you seen insects show up in surprising ways in your field—whether in logistics, industry, or design? Share your story—I’d love to hear it.